Means for arranging oval cigarettes



Dec. 13g, 1932. R. w. voxGT MEANS FOR AHRANGING OVAL cGARETTEs Filed Feb. 20. 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l r/gf.

R. W. VOIGT MEANS FOR ARRANGINIG OVAL CIGARETTES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 13, 1932.

Filed Feb. 2o. 1929 Cil Patented Dec. 13, 1932 UNITED, STATES PATENT oFFlcE ROBERT WILHELM VOIGT, 0F DRESDEN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR T0 THE FIRM UNIVERSELLE CIGARETTENMASCHINEN-FABRIK, J. C. MLLER & C0., OF DRESDEN,

GERMANY MEANS FOR ARRANGING OVAL CIGARETTES Application led February 20, 1929, Serial N`o.`341,387, and in Germany February 25, 1928. v

This invention relates to a means for arranging oval cigarettes.

The cigarettes delivered from cigarette machines as is well-known already bear imprints. In the delivery of the cigarettes coming from the machine, means have been provided for insuring that the cigarettes lie with their imprints similarly disposed. In general, however, cigarettes are arranged in inclined piles before they are packed. In the cigarette boxes the imprints of at least the upper layer of cigarettes should be visible i. e. disposed in the same direction. If thecigarettes are packeted mechanically then they must be arranged mechanically to obtain the desired appearance of the imprints `in the packet. For this purpose it has already been propo-sed to mechanically arrange the cigarettes provided with imprints,byleading said cigarettes past a source of light which illuminates that part of the cigarette at which the imprint is to be found and the light rel'iected is directed to a highly heator light-sensitive medium which in consequence of the action of the retlected light produces or allows the passage of an electric current only of sufficient strength to excite a relay to close a second circuit which controls mechanical means for rotating the .cigarettes vabout their longitudinal axes when the reiiected light is not weakened by the imprint. Thus a heating or lighting e'ect is the basis of this method.

In accordance with the present invention the electric current is utilized to set in operation mechanical means for rotating the cigarettes about their llongitudinal axes but the contact for openingv or closing the electric circuit is elfected purely mechanically, the cigarette moving past a feeler which is so adjustedthat it is moved by the cigarette seam. This movement is utilized to interrupt or close the electric circuit and thereby activate mechanical means which engage and turn the cigarettes. The new method is intended principally for the dressing of oval cigarettes wherethe seam', which is located diametrically opposite the imprint, can only take one of two positions, the cigarette lying either in its proper position with the seam on the supported side of the cigarette or with the seam on the upper side.

rlhe cigarettes are disposed and held preferably on a feed band or the like at regular distances apart with their longitudinal axes parallel and fed past a feeler lever, the free end of which engages with the passing cigarette and is moved by the transversely extending cigarette seam i. e. is swung around.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings which show a suitable arrangement for dressing oval ci arettes in accordance with the invention, ig. l being a side elevation, Fig. la a detail showing how the feeler is Vengaged by the cigarette seam, Fig. 2 a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 an end view partly in vertical cross section and Fig. 4 being an end view partly in vertical section with the parts ina different osition, the driving means for the turning c evice not being shown. Fig. 5 is a side elevation seen from the opposite side from Fig. l.

' Referring to the drawings, there is provided a feed chain in the form of an endless band the chain links l of which are connected with one another by intermediate links 2 each of which carries two rollers 3 of which one is adjacent the one chain link and the other the neighbouring chain link. The chain with these rollers 3 runs over the guide rail 4 which is carried by brackets 5 on the base plate 6. The chain links l terminate on their upper sides in channels 7 which are made of oval cross section to receive each cigarette. In order that the cigarettes Z will be held in the channels 7 there is provided over the chain links 1 a covering rail consisting of two bars 8 and 9 extending parallel to one another adjacent the ends of the channels as shown in Figs. 3 and 4;. The cigarettes themselves eX- Each time that the feeler arm 21 is actuated a cigarette is rotatedbecause the rock lever 32 has fed the cigarette into the mouth of the rotatable member .38 where it is held frictionally. Naturally, since roller 43 is kept in continuous engagement with cam 44 by means of spring 47, the pinion is rotated 180o in opposite direction, returning to its original position, when the toothed sector 41 is returned to its original position.

In order to push back into the channels 7 the cigarettes which have been turned the following arrangement is provided. In the hollow7 rotatable member 38 is provided a pusher 38 which is movable longitudinally and which by means of a spring 382 which bears against a collar 49 mounted threadedly or otherwise on the pusher tends to press the pusher towards the 'right in Fig. 4 so that the end 50 of the pusher projecting from the hollow rotatable member is held by the spring in the extreme right hand position. The cam disc is, however, provided on its periphery with a cam 51. A rock lever 53, which is pivoted on the frame at 54, has its end fitted with a roller 52 which latter is adapted to bear against the periphery of said cam disk in the path of said cam 51. This lever is provided with an upwardly extending arm 55 the free end of which is located adjacent the end of the'pusher 50. On each rotation of the shaft 46 the lever 53 and its arm 55 are rocked, the'uppe'r end of said arm striking against the end of the pusher 38 and pushing it longitudinally against the action of the spring 382 into the hollow rotatable member 38. The forward end 56 of the pusher entering the mouth of the rotating member abuts against a cigarette held therein and pushes such cigarette inits channel 7 back into its old position. Obviousiy the cam 51 is so arranged in relation to the cam disc 44 that the upwardly extending arm of rock lever 53 acts on the pusher 38 only when the rotatable member has extended its rotation through 180.

It will be understood that the cigarettes carried by the chain and now arranged in relation to the imprints may be deposited in a suitable manner or delivered direct to the packeting machine.

The two guide members 5T and 58 which are carried by cheeks mounted on the frame plates extend on both sides of the chain and act as guides for the cigarette ends.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for arranging oval cigarettes with respect to their imprints comprising a feeler, means for feeding the cigarettes to be arranged past said feeler, said feeler engageable with the cigarette seams, means for controlling an electric circuit, said means controlled by said feeler, means for rotating the cigarettes about their longitudinal axes, means controlled by said electric circuit for ylever adapted to be controlled thereby and serving to displace the io'arettes in the longitudinal direction, means to move said lever away from said electro-magnet, a. rotatable member adapted to receiveA the displaced cigarettes andte rotate them about the longitudinal axis of the cigarette through 180 and a pusher adapted to return the cigarette thus rotated back to the feeding means.

3. In a device for uniformly arranging evel cigarettes having seams with respect to the imprints on said cigarettes, means to so arrange said cigarettes and mea-ns adapted to be actuated by engagement with said seams to control said arranging means.

4. In a device for uniformly arranging oval cigarettes having seams with vrespectto the imprints on said cigarettes, means to so arrange said cigarettes, electrical means to control said arranging means and mechanical means adapted to be actuated by enga-gement with said seams to control said electrical means.

5. In a devicev for uniformly arranging oval cigarettes having seams with respect to the imprints on said cigarettes, means to arrange the disarranged cigarettes and means adapted to be actuated by engagement with theseains of said disa-rranged cigarettes to control said arranging means.

6. In a device for uniformly arranging oval cigarettes having seams with respect to the imprints on said cigarettes, means to ro tate the disarranged cigarettes through 180 and means adapted to be actuated by engagement with the seams of said disarranged cigarettes to control said rotating means.

7. In a device for uniformly arranging oval cigarettes having seams with respect to the imprints on said cigarettes, means to rotate the disarranged cigarettes through 180o to arrange the same in conformity with the other cigarettes,relectrical means to control said rotating means and means adapted to be actuated by engagement with the seams of said cigarettes to control said eiectrical means.

8. In a device for `uniformly arranging oval cigarettes having seams, with respect to the imprints on said cigarettes, means to rotate disarranged cigarettes into conformity with the otherfcigarettes, means to bring .said disarranged cigarettes into engagement with said rotating means, means to engage the seams of said ydisarranged cigarettes to control said second named means and means for conveying said cigarettes past said seam en gaging means.

V9. In a device for uniformly .arranging oval cigarettes having seams, With `respect to the imprints on said cigarettes, means to rotate Vdisarranged cigarettes into yconformity with the other cigarettes, means to bring said disarranged cigarettes into engagement With said `rotating means, electrical means to control said second named means, means to engage the seams of said disarranged cigarettes 'to control said electrical means and means for conveying said cigarettes past said seam engaging means.

10. In a device for uniformly arranging oval cigarettes having seams, with respect to the imprints on said cigarettes, means to rotate 4the ldisarranged cigarettes about their longitudinal axes into conformity With the other cigarettes, means to bring said disarranged cigarettes into engagement With said rotating means, electrical means to control said second named means, means to engage the seams of said disarranged cigarettes to 4control said electrical means and means forI conveying said cigarettes past said seam engaging means.

11. In a device for uniformly arranging oval cigarettes having-seams, with respect to the imprints on said cigarettes, means to rotate the disarranged cigarettes 180 about their longitudinal axes into conformity with the other cigarettes, means to bring said disarranged cigarettes into engagement with `said rotating means, electrical means to control said second named means, means to ene gage the seams of said disarranged cigarettes to control said electrical means and means for conveying said cigarettes past said seam engaging means.

l2. In a device for uniformly arranging oval cigarettes having seams, With respect to the imprints on said cigarettes, means to rotate the disarranged cigarettes about their longitudinal axes into conformity with the other cigarettes, means to displace said disarranged cigarettes longitudinally to bring them into engagement With said rotating means, electrical means to control said displacing means, means to engage the seams of said disarranged cigarettes to control said electrical means, means to return said longitudinally displaced cigarettes to original position and means for conveying said cigarettes past said seam engaging means.

13. In a device for uniformly arranging oval cigarettes having seams, with respect to the imprints on .said cigarettes, means to rotate the disarranged cigarettes about their longitudinal axes into conformity with the other cigarettes, means to displace said disarranged cigarettes longitudinally to bring cigarettes successively past said seam engag- 4ing means.

In testimony whereof I aiX my signature.l

ROBERT WILHELM voler. 

